Responding to changes in various aspects of student life on campus, the Office of Student Conflict Resolution (OSCR) announced Sept. 2 amendments to the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities. The statement sets forth University values and expectations for conduct and is intended to maintain the best learning environment for students.

The changes include:

Gender identity: While OSCR always has operated from a nondiscriminatory perspective regardless of whether it was noted specifically or not, gender identity now is included in the non-discrimination clause of the statement. Its inclusion is intended to provide additional support for students wishing to report gender identity related incidents;

Spoofed e-mail: In order to confront the problem of spoofed e-mail messages, a provision has been added to the statement that specifically prohibits assuming another person’s identity without proper authorization (see related story, page 1);

Clarifying language has been added to the statement in three areas:

• To ensure students understand that their advisor in conduct proceedings may be an attorney;

• To make explicit the standard of proof (clear and convincing evidence) used during student conduct proceedings;

• To ensure students understand when the timeline to submit an appeal begins.

According to Keith Elkin, director of OSCR, the statement undergoes a formal process for making changes every other year, and the most recent cycle just concluded. The amendment process is conducted according to a regents bylaw that allows the Michigan Student Assembly, the Faculty Senate Assembly and the executive officers of the University to propose amendments to the statement.

The Student Relations Committee (SRC) of the Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs then reviews all proposed amendments. After consultation with the above-mentioned groups, SRC forwards proposed amendments to the president of the University with the committee’s recommendations on implementation. The final decision on amending the statement lies with the president.

“We will be hosting open forums on campus this fall to answer questions and get feedback,” Elkin says. “That will be a good time for anyone interested in the process to learn about it and give us their direct input.”

Elkin says the first forum will be 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sept. 24 in the MUG lobby of the Michigan Union. The second is 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sept. 25 in Pierpont Commons, just outside the Piano Lounge.

The statement is posted on the OSCR Web site, http://www.umich.edu/~oscr/.